Dark Horse’s March 2019 is probably one of the most exciting months in recent memory. Half of this list includes brand new number ones with four of them being completely new series not based off a license they hold. That’s not a lot for other publishers but for Dark Horse, that’s a lot and it’s very exciting. On top of that, we have a couple of advance solicitations that I’m personally really excited for.
10. That Sweet Marketing Machine
I liked the first season of American Gods. I also really enjoyed the book. Wasn’t super into the comic book but with it relaunching for the final arc, maybe I’ll try it again. Very good timing on part of everyone involved too since the show is about to come back.
American Gods: The Moment of the Storm #1
Neil Gaiman (W), P. Craig Russell (W/A), Scott Hampton (A/C), Glenn Fabry (Cover), and David Mack (Variant Cover)
On sale Apr 17
The new and old gods agree to meet in the center of America to exchange the body of the old gods’ fallen leader—heading toward the invitable god war in this final arc of the bestselling comics series!The Hugo, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy, and Nebula Award–winning novel by Neil Gaiman is adapted as a graphic novel!Look for American Gods Season 2 coming in March 2019!
9. “It Is Time”
The Lion King was actually the first movie I ever saw in theaters. My dad took me and it’s probably the earliest memory of my life that I have so to say this movie is special to me, is a understatement. I still find it super weird that Marvel isn’t the publisher putting these out but I’m excited to be an almost 30 year old woman buying Lion King comics.
Disney The Lion King: Wild Schemes and Catastrophes TP (advance solicit)
John Jackson Miller (W) and TBD (A)
On sale June 4
A graphic novel anthology expanding on the Disney live-action feature film The Lion King. Journey through Pride Rock and beyond in four stories focusing on the life of Simba as a cub and what awaits him on his path to become the lion king.
• Written by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars, Mass Effect)!
• Four new stories inspired by the upcoming Disney live-action film directed by Jon Favreau!
8. When You Can’t Wait A Decade For Another Movie
That sounds sarcastic, I know but it’s true. That’s the best thing about comics, they don’t take 10 years to come out…usually. This looks like a story that fits real nicely into the movies and it’ll probably teach the little ones a good lesson so everyone wins.
Disney The Incredibles 2: Secret Identities #1 (of 3)
Christos Gage (W), Jean Claudio-Vinci (A/Cover), and Kawaii Creative Studio (Variant Cover)
On sale Apr 10
t’s tough being a teenager, and on top of that, a teenager with super powers! Violet feels out of place at school and doesn’t fit in with the kids around her . . . until she meets another girl at school—an outsider with powers, just like her! Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship? Or are powers not the only thing her friend is keeping secret?
• An original story arc set after Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2 feature film!
• Written by Christos Gage from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Amazing Spider-Man!
7. Another Finale
I’ve had the chance to get a slightly early press look at “Wyrd” #1 and it’s really good. It’s very different but very interesting and definitely a Curt Pires book. I’m excited to read more and to see how it all comes together in the end.
Wyrd #4 (of 4)
Curt Pires (W), Antonio Fuso (A/Cover), Stefano Simeone (C), and Danijel Zezelj (Variant Cover)
On sale Apr 24
Wyrd pays the price. Everything ends, and begins anew.
Plus: Kansas City, 1938. First contact. A familiar face
6. Art Lives Forever
Bernie Wrightson has been gone for a little while now but his work will live on forever thanks to reprints like this. He and Steve Niles were great friends and worked together many times and in June we’ll all be able to get our hands on this anniversary edition and appreciate his work all over again or for the first time.
Continued belowCity of Others: Tenth Anniversary Edition HC
Steve Niles (W), Bernie Wrightson (A/Cover), and José Villarrubia (C)
On sale June 5
A masterwork from two horror comics legends in a deluxe oversized edition!
From the writer who created 30 Days of Night and the artist who created Swamp Thing comes a horror graphic novel like no other! Stosh Bludowski is a killer, born with the capacity for no apparent human emotion other than rage. Killing comes easy for Blud, and he makes a good living doing what’s easy—until the day he meets two jobs in an alley who just won’t die, and a grotesque mystery unfolds right in front of him. Soon, the remorseless killer is confronted by a reality he could never imagine, and he will be invited to make a decision once and for all: is he human, or is he Other?
5. It’s Almost Over
I’m very sad because we’re about to be over and done with “The Umbrella Academy” and nothing more has been announced yet. Don’t hurt us this way Gerard Way…we need more! Also, this cover is fantastic. Look at it.
The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #7
Gerard Way (W), Gabriel Bá (A/Cover/Variant Cover), and Nick Filardi (C)
On sale Apr 3
The heroes face a mortal showdown with Perseus and the villains from Oblivion, as a new threat arises, deepening the mystery of the Umbrella Academy.
• Netflix live-action series premiers this month!
4. A Reminder
I have not read “Invisible Kingdom” #1 yet but I’m using this space to remind you that G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward are doing a comic book together and it’s going to be incredible and you’re going to want it. Thank you.
Invisible Kingdom #2
G.Willow Wilson (W) and Christian Ward (A/C/Cover)
On sale Apr 24
After her shocking discovery of religious corruption, Vess must choose between quiet obedience in the monastery, and deafening truth . . . in exile. Meanwhile, Grix learns that Lux will stop at nothing to keep her newfound knowledge from leaking, and decides to make a break for it. Both women might feel terribly alone—but not for much longer
3. Madness Indeed
H.P. Lovecraft was a racist who doesn’t deserve the canonization he gets. However, his work has influenced countless numbers of creatives and long after his death, his creations probably belong more to the people than they ever did to him given how many better adaptations and interpretations exist. Gou Tanabe’s adaptation of “At The Mountains of Madness” almost won him an Eisner and from what I understand, it’s fantastic and horrifying. I am excited to read this myself.
H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness Volume 1 TP (advance solicit)
Gou Tanabe (W/A/Cover)
On sale June 12
January 25, 1931: an expedition team arrives at a campsite in Antarctica . . . to find its crew of men and sled dogs strewn and dead. But a still more horrific sight is the star-shaped mound of snow nearby . . . for under its five points is a grave—and what lies beneath is not human!
At the Mountains of Madness is a journey into the core of Lovecraft’s mythos—the deep caverns and even deeper time of the inhospitable continent where the secret history of our planet is preserved—amidst the ruins of its first civilization, built by the alien Elder Things with the help of their bioengineered monstrosities, the shoggoths.
Since it was first published in Astounding Stories during the classic pulp era, At the Mountains of Madness has influenced both horror and science fiction worldwide!
• Gou Tanabe’s previous H.P. Lovecraft’s The Hound was nominated for a 2018 Eisner Award.
• Metallic gold highlights on cover with silver ink tip-in sheet reproduce original Japanese design features.
2. All Good Things
…must come to an end! In April, we’ll be saying goodbye to the very long running “B.P.R.D” but I suspect something will be coming down the line sooner rather than later with a new Hellboy movie coming out. Fifteen years is an eternity in comics these days with everything constantly being relaunched so I look forward to reading this and reading all the articles that come out of it talking about the series and its impact.
Continued belowB.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know #15
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Scott Allie (W), Laurence Campbell (P/I), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Apr 17
After fifteen years of B.P.R.D. comics, the series reaches its explosive conclusion!
1. She Flies Again
I really, really enjoyed “She Could Fly” but it’s absolutely not for the faint of heart. It’s a really tragic and painful story to read, which isn’t really how it was initially marketed (a discussion for another time). I think this story had a ton of interesting parts that got a little rushed in just four issues. With an extra issue this time around and all the ground work done, I’m very excited to read what comes next.
She Could Fly: The Lost Pilot #1 (of 5)
Christopher Cantwell (W), Martin Morazzo (A/Cover), and Miroslav Mrva (C)
On sale Apr 10
The acclaimed miniseries continues!
Luna has crash-landed back into her life after spending a year in a mental institution . . . but that might just mean she’s closer to the edge than she’s ever been before. After discovering clues about the Flying Woman’s missing family, Luna’s obsession reignites, threatening to again unravel her fragile mind. Meanwhile, a mysterious guru appears in the sewers of Chicago and a Russian mercenary seeks old secret technology, and the specter of violence begins to loom over everyone once more.Luna begins to wonder . . . will she even survive long enough to go insane?
What are you looking forward to in April? Let me know in the comments below and check out the full solicitations over at First Comics News.
